Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Establishes biennial requirements of forty credit hours in specified continuing medical education programs for renewal of physician assistant licenses, beginning with the renewal for the licensing biennium on 2/1/2020, and every biennial renewal thereafter. Authorizes the Hawaii Medical Board to conduct random document audits to enforce compliance. Specifies conditions for forfeiture and reinstatement of a license.

Establishes a statewide anti-littering public education and awareness campaign to be administered by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Authorizes the Hawaii Tourism Authority to enter into contracts and agreements relating to a statewide anti-littering public education and awareness campaign. Establishes a pilot program for the Hawaii Tourism Authority to assume management of the Department of Transportation's Adopt-A-Highway program in certain geographic areas. Appropriates funds.

Requires members in planned community associations subject to HRS 421J and unit owners in condominiums subject to HRS 514B to register units leased as transient accommodations. Requires associations to submit annual reports to county planning departments and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT). Requires DBEDT to submit annual reports to the Legislature.

Establishes a Remote Legislative Access Program to allow for the submission of testimony remotely. Appropriates funds.

Appropriates funds to establish one full-time equivalent Alzheimer's disease and related dementia services coordinator position in the Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division of the Department of Health.

Increases the state tax credit for renters earning less than $60,000 per year and links future increases to the Consumer Price Index. Makes Hawaii's earned income tax credit refundable. Increases the state food/excise tax credit by specified amounts and links future increases to the Consumer Price Index. Minimizes the adverse budgetary effect of increasing tax credits for working families by raising income taxes for high-income taxpayers.

Allows authorized emergency vehicles, including fire department vehicles, discretion to use either authorized audible or visual signals when responding to an emergency. Requires vehicles to yield to an authorized emergency vehicle using either an audible or visual signal.

Excepts from the definition of historic property any private residence that has not been entered, or nominated by the owner of the residence for entry, onto the Hawaii register of historic places. Clarifies that nothing in section 6E-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be construed to require review by the department of land and natural resources for a project on a private residence fifty or more years old that has not been entered, or nominated by the owner of the residence for entry, onto the Hawaii register of historic places.

Authorizes and regulates the manufacturing of edible cannabis products as manufactured cannabis products by licensed medical cannabis dispensaries. Establishes standards, including regulations and education protocols, for edible cannabis products. Requires cannabis and manufactured cannabis products to include a universal symbol, developed by the department of health, to identify any product containing cannabis. Requires the department of health to implement a cannabis product recall system.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to allow applications for marine event permits up to one year in advance and authorizes the Department to adopt rules to mitigate hazards posed by vessels, thrill craft, drones, and other means used by spectators to observe or record marine events. Requires a report to the 2019 Legislature. (HB2259 CD1)